The North Thailand Compedium

Because of lack of time and resources I need to short the things up and stick to some highlights of my trip in recent months. Time is passing so fast, lack of good internet and amount of amazing experiences guided me to make it kind of short. Still I think there was a lot happening and there are hundreds of pictures, which are waiting to be reviewed.

After the "great" experience of mud driving I decided to stick to paved roads and continue enjoying the amazing views in the mountanius North Thailand.

The first thing which pop up on the way was visiting the Karen refugee village. I was the only turist at the time(normally they come by boats in big groups), so low season makes the experience more real. Again. No one is even trying to cover that people live there turists. Funny stalls with everything and nothing, showing the neck mostly when turists are around(but not exactly, as women which came back from jungle took the rings off after home arrival, even after noticing me). I got to know one lady which spoke english, she showed me around, explained history and actual status. Like for example, most of people living in the village doesn't have passports, ID not even permission to stay in Thailand(all of them are refugees from Myanmar) so they can't move from village. So there is no way to have any kind of profit from working in towns or hotels etc. Which means only way to get some money is from turists. Food is not a big problem, because after they get rice they collect some vegtables in jungle with eggs from a chicken is enough to survive in monsoon months where turists are not coming.

They live from turists, but they still smile to you, invite for lunch and tea and neck ring is a religious and traditional thing, not created for turists. Off course young girls are not that happy about it, so they try to make they life somewhere in the town, attend high school or something. In the village mainly older ladies and young kids wear the rings. As I was told also younger women comes when the season starts.

I personally like it, but it was super quiet. Only me in the village and I got to know the lady which explained me many aspects of their living, so very interesting as well. Aspect of supporting it or not can be discussed with me personally, to many things to explain around :)

The village Kindergarden

What do you want to buy?

This are some pillars which are connected to their religion and to which they prey(closer to sky).

Pretty interesting thing to see the "old" believes

The long-neck Karen lady it self :)

Hello Farang :)

This is a green, very green part of Thailand. Animals love it. Do you like spiders?

The next stop was in Mae Hong Son, where I slept in cheap hotel with lady-boy owner :D

The style is a bit different here, so it was time to visit some temples (again and again :D)

How you imagine monks? How do they live? What kind of life they follow?

Some of this sculptures were 700 years old. I think I remember properly :P Maybe 500 ?

Not that impressive for me, but different. It's good to be different :)

What I have enjoyed the most? RIDING RIDING RIDING !!!! PARADISE ON MOTORBIKE!!!

Yes, I know. There are electric lines on the picture. Get used to. This is Asia. They cover most of great view points.....

Lucky one here :P

Hello 150 cc Speed Master :) Fastest bike in the mountains :D

La la la..... I am just smiling writing it......

Are you already tired? Me? NOT!!! Let's ride !

Closing the famous Mae Hong Son Loop I got to Chiang Mai, which is big big city with many many farangs. No matter what, I like it, had some parties with backpackers and explore some local roads around. Food is different and as usually in Thailand amazing, so get there and find some other meals :D

Only in Chiang Mai there are 131 temples, so ...... to many. I got to some which looked nice from outside for me. This one particullary had english speaking monks, so I had some conversations with them :)

Flags, flags, flags. 

Style is similar. Hello dragons.

Somewhere in Chiang Mai

Famous old Chedi.

Monks :)

It was already somewhere.......

Did they belong to monks?

Another old Chedi. Other old temple in CM.

Baht, Baht, Baht, Baht, give me baht whenever you want......

RIDING !!!

Riding

On the way to Golden Triangle, where you can see Maynmar, Thailand and Laos. Historic opium smugling point, now just for turist. Nothing to see apart of amazing roads around and Mekong riverbanks :D

Somewhere......over the clouds

Many, many clouds :D

Hmmm..... How to describe another picture with motorbike?

Chineese style temple on one of the side roads :D Not a single turist :D

Famous Chiang Rai clock tower

After exploring a bit norhest points of Thailand, I went south to check out Chiang Rai, which is famous from clock tower and White Temple.

So here it is. The White Temple.

Pretty spectacular sculptures :D

and details as well :D

Here is only one turist, well. In front of temple big parking place, few big busses, few mini vans and many cars. Well. Really popular place.....

But no matter what. Impressive.

Now there are many.....

No way to take a photo without people around.

And my NEX variations.....

I love NEX !

Hey! My bike likes pictures :D

Tirurururururirariara

Don't try riding after dark. You will get plenty of insects over you....

So North Thailand is AMAZING !!! For motorbike. A M A Z I N G !!!!!

The rest is also very nice :P

Over.